Device for carrying a milking member

ABSTRACT

The invention refers to a device for carrying a milking member, which includes four teatcups ( 3 ) and is connectable to a milking machine ( 5 ) via a flexible conduit member ( 6 ). A support element ( 10 ) is fixedly mounted at a milking box ( 13 ) for an animal to be milked and positioned with the head at the front. An arm arrangement ( 9 ) is pivotably connected to the support element and arranged to support partly the milking member during milking of the animal when the teatcups are applied to a respective teat. The arm arrangement ( 9 ) is movable from a first position beside the animal to a second position below the animal. The arm arrangement is fixedly connected to the flexible conduit member ( 6 ) at a distance from the milking member in such a way that the milking member is partly movable in relation to the arm arrangement. The device includes a force-generating member for generating, during milking, a force acting on the arm arrangement in a forward direction (x). This force is transferred to the teatcup via the conduit member.

THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

[0001] The present invention refers to a device for carrying a milkingmember, which includes at least one teatcup and which, via a flexibleconduit member, is connectable to a milking machine arranged to providea relatively low pressure, wherein the device includes a supportelement, which is fixedly mounted in or at a milking box having a frontend and a rear end, and being arranged to receive an animal to bemilked, wherein said animal is positioned with the head at the frontend, and an arm arrangement, which is pivotably connected to the supportelement and arranged to support partly the milking member during milkingof said animal and when said teatcup is applied to a teat of saidanimal, wherein the arm arrangement is movable from a first position, inwhich the milking member is located beside said animal, to a secondposition, in which the milking member is located below said animal.

[0002] A plurality of such devices for carrying a milking member areknown in the patent literature. Such carrying devices, which frequentlyare named service arms, are in typical cases in connection with manualapplication of the teatcups, intended for carrying the milking memberwhen the milking member is moved from a position beside the animal to bemilked to a position below the animal. The milking member is releasedfrom the service arm by the milker, which holds the milking member withhis one hand and applies the teatcups with his other hand. However, manyknown service arms have the disadvantage that they, during the milkingproper, influence the milking member with forces in directions which arenot desired.

[0003] EP-A-630556 discloses a device for carrying a claw with fourteatcups. The claw is, via a flexible conduit member, connected to amilking machine which is arranged to provide a relatively low pressure.The device includes a support element, which is fixedly mounted in or ata milking box arranged to receive an animal to be milked, and an armarrangement, which is pivotably connected to the support element andarranged to support the milking member in connection with theapplication of the teatcups and also during the milking proper.Furthermore, the device includes a force-generating member arranged togenerate a force acting forwardly on the claw during the milking. Theclaw is however only connected to the arm arrangement in a loose mannervia a schematically disclosed connection. The long milk conduit hangsapparently substantially loosely under the arm arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a deviceoffering an advantageous support for a milking member during the milkingof an animal.

[0005] This object is achieved by the device initially defined, which ischaracterised in that the arm arrangement by means of a connectingmember is fixedly connected to the flexible conduit member at a distancefrom the milking member in such a way that the milking member is partlymovable in relation to the arm arrangement, and that the device includesa force-generating member, which, during milking, is arranged togenerate a force acting on the arm arrangement in a forward direction,wherein this force is transferred to said teatcup via the conduitmember.

[0006] In such a way a very favourable influence on the milking memberand the teats is achieved during the milking. It is thus possible toavoid that the milking member influences the teats in such a way thatthe milk flow through the teat channel of the respective teat ishindered. The force is applied via the conduit member, and thus nodirect connection of any mechanical component on the milking member isneeded.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the invention, the force-generatingmember is arranged to generate force with a size that is substantiallyindependent of the position of the arm arrangement during the milking.Different animals have different sizes, for instance the udder of oldercows is normally lower than the udder of younger cows. It is thusadvantageous that the generated force is independent of the position ofthe milking member, for instance if it is located at a relatively highposition or a relatively low position. With a member generating such aforce with a substantially constant size, the forwardly directed forcewill be substantially equal even if the animal moves in the box duringthe milking. Such a force may for instance be obtained by means of aforce-generating member, which includes a cylinder which includes apiston that is displaceable in the cylinder through the supply ordischarge of a fluid.

[0008] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the armarrangement is arranged to permit a relatively free movability of themilking member in a vertical direction during the milking. In such a wayit is possible to achieve a resulting force acting on the teats in adirection obliquely downwards and forwards.

[0009] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the armarrangement includes a tubular arm element, through which the conduitmember extends, wherein the connecting member is provided at an outerend of the arm element. Advantageously, the device may include abalancing member which, during the milking, is arranged to balance theweight of the arm element and the conduit member.

[0010] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the tubulararm element is designed as a telescope arm with at least a first partand a second outer part, wherein the second outer part is displaceablein relation to the first part. Such a telescope arm may in an easymanner be pulled out to a desired length so that the teatcups reach therespective teat. A telescope arm may also be moved together so that ittakes up a little space, and it may easily be turned away for enablingother activities, such as cleaning of the udder etc.

[0011] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the firstpart of the telescope arm includes one of said cylinder and piston,wherein the second part of the telescope arm includes the other of saidcylinder and piston. Advantageously, the cylinder may be formed by thefirst part of the telescope arm and the piston by the second part of thetelescope arm.

[0012] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the armarrangement includes a rotary member, which is arranged to permitrotation of the arm element in a first rotary direction about a rotaryaxis of the rotary member during the movement of the arm arrangementfrom the first position to the second position. The rotary member mayadvantageously be connected to the first part of the telescope arm.Furthermore, the rotary member may be connected to the support element.

[0013] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the milkingmember includes a claw, which is connected to the conduit member, andfour teatcups, which are connected to the claw via a respective shortmilk conduit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The present invention is now to be explained more closely bymeans of various embodiments and with reference to the drawingsattached.

[0015]FIG. 1 discloses schematically a side-view of a device accordingto a first embodiment of the invention in a first position.

[0016]FIG. 2 discloses schematically a side-view of a device in FIG. 1in a second position.

[0017]FIG. 3 discloses a perspective view of an embodiment of a deviceaccording to the invention.

[0018]FIG. 4 discloses a side-view of the device in FIG. 3.

[0019]FIG. 5 discloses schematically an exploded view of aforce-generating member of the device in FIGS. 1-4.

[0020]FIG. 6 discloses a perspective view of a first locking part of thedevice in FIGS. 1-4.

[0021]FIG. 7 discloses a perspective view of a second locking part ofthe device in FIGS. 1-4.

[0022]FIG. 8 discloses schematically a partly demounted rotary member ofthe device in FIGS. 1-4.

[0023]FIG. 9 discloses a perspective view of a number of components ofthe rotary member in FIG. 8.

[0024]FIG. 10 discloses a perspective view of a piston of the rotarymember in FIG. 8.

[0025]FIG. 11 discloses a view of a tooth washer of the rotary member inFIG. 8.

[0026]FIG. 12 discloses a view of a part of two tooth washers of therotary member in FIG. 8.

[0027]FIG. 13 discloses a view from above of a device according to asecond embodiment of the invention.

[0028]FIG. 14 discloses a side-view of the device in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0029]FIGS. 1-4 disclose a device arranged to carrying a milking member1. The milking member 1 includes a schematically disclosed claw 2 andfour teatcups 3, see FIGS. 2-4. The teatcups 3 are connected to the claw2 via a respective short milk conduit and a respective short pulseconduit (not disclosed). The milking member 1 thus has a conventionaldesign known per se. Furthermore, the milking member 1 is in aconventional manner connected to a milking machine 51 which is disclosedschematically in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 via a conduit member 6, which at leastincludes a long milk conduit and/or at least a long pulse conduit. Themilking machine 5 includes a vacuum pump 7 and a milk collecting member8.

[0030] The device according to the invention includes an arm arrangement9 and a support element 10. The support element 10 is in the embodimentdisclosed attached to a substantially vertical wall 11 in a milkingparlour. In the milking parlour 12, the milker is present, the purposeof whose is to apply the teatcups 3 to the teats of the animal to bemilked. The animal (not disclosed) is standing in a milking box 13, theground 14 of which is indicated in FIGS. 1-4. In the embodimentdisclosed, it is intended that the cow is standing with her rear partturned to the milking parlour 12 and thus having the head turnedforwardly in the direction x from the milking parlour 12. The supportelement 10 is attached to the substantially vertical wall 11 by means ofan attachment plate 15 and extends substantially horizontally outwardlyfrom the wall 11. The support element 10 includes at its outer end aswing joint 16, which includes a swingable part 17 on which a swing arm18 of the arm arrangement 9 is provided. The swing arm 18 is thusswingable in a substantially vertical plane in a rotary direction a, seeFIG. 3. The swing arm 18 is partly formed by a spring element 19, whichgives a limited elasticity to the swing arm 18. The swing arm 18 isswingable between at least a substantially vertical position, which isdisclosed in FIGS. 1-4, and a rest position (not disclosed) in which theswing arm 18 has been swinged laterally so that it extends with an angleof inclination of about 10-50° in relation to a horizontal plane. Insuch a way, the arm arrangement 9 may be turned away in the restposition and the milker has free access for cleaning of the udder of theanimal present in the milking box 13.

[0031] Furthermore, the arm arrangement 9 includes a rotary member 22,which is provided at the upper end of the swing arm 18. The rotarymember 22 is connected to the swing arm 18 by means of a further rotaryjoint 23 permitting the rotation of the rotary member 22 in a rotarydirection b about a rotary axis being substantially concentric with theswing arm 18.

[0032] Furthermore, the arm arrangement 9 includes a telescope arm 30,which is provided on the rotary member 22. The telescope arm 30 isrotatable in a rotary direction c between a first, substantiallyvertical position, see FIG. 1, and a second substantially horizontalposition, see FIG. 2-4. It is to be noted that the second substantiallyhorizontal position may incline upwards or downwards depending on theanimal to be milked. The telescope arm 30 is rotatable by means of amechanism of the rotary member 22. This mechanism is to be explainedmore closely below. The telescope arm 30 includes a first part 31 and asecond part 32. The second part 32 is projectable out from andintroduceable into the first part 31. The second part 32 thus functionsas a piston in the first part 31 that functions as a cylinder. Betweenthe first part 31 and second part 32 a space 33 is formed, which issealed from the environment by means of a piston ring 34 that is fixedlyconnected to the second part 32 and a cylinder ring 35 that is fixedlyconnected to the first part 31. The telescope arm 30 is tubular andarranged to receive the conduit member 6 extending through the wholetelescope arm 30. The conduit member 6 is fixedly connected to thesecond part 32 and more specifically in the forward end of the secondpart 32 by means of elastic clamping jaws 29 or any similar connectingmember. The position of the milking member 1 in relation to the secondpart 32 of the telescope arm 30 is thus fixed and the milking member 1is located at a small distance from the second part 32, which distancepermits a certain movability of the milking member 1 in relation to thetelescope arm 30 thanks to the flexibility of the conduit member 6connecting the second part 32 and the milking member 1, see FIG. 2.

[0033] Thanks to the above described movabilities of the arm arrangement9 a moving pattern according to the following is obtained. In a restposition of the device, the swing arm 18 is turned downwards to the restposition mentioned above. In this rest position, the telescope arm 30extends in substantially the same direction as the swing arm 18. Whenthe milking member 1 is to be applied, the milker grips two of theteatcups 3 and pull them upwardly so that the swing arm 18 takes thesubstantially vertical position. When this movement of the swing arm 18is initiated also the vacuum application is activated, which is to beexplained more closely below. At the same time or immediately after theachievement of the vertical position, the milker moves the two teatcups3 forwardly, wherein the telescope arm 30 will be turned downwardly andthe second part 32 of the telescope arm 30 is pulled outwardly to thesubstantially horizontal position disclosed in FIG. 2. By means of asmall lifting of the teatcups 3 and the telescope arm 20, the armarrangement 9 is locked in the position achieved, which is to beexplained more closely below. Consequently, the teatcups 3 may in aneasy manner be applied two and two to the teats of the animal withoutthe need for the milker to hold the claw 2 proper.

[0034] The device also includes a first locking member including a firstlocking part 41, which is fixedly connected to the milking member 1, anda second locking part 42, which is displaceably provided on theprojectable second part 32 of the telescope arm 30. The second lockingpart 42 is displaceable between a locking position (see FIG. 1), inwhich the second locking part 42 is in locking engagement with the firstlocking part 41, and thus locks and fixes the milking member 1 inrelation to the telescope arm 30, and a releasing position (see FIG. 2),in which the second locking part 2 is not in engagement with the firstlocking part 41, wherein the milking member 1 is partly movable inrelation to the telescope arm 30 thanks to the flexibility of theconduit member 6. The first locking part 31 is disclosed more closely inFIG. 6 and the second locking part 42 is disclosed more closely in FIG.7.

[0035] Furthermore, the arm arrangement 9 includes a second lockingmember 50, which is arranged to permit the projecting of the second part32 of the telescope arm 30 out from the first part 31 and the locking ofthe second part 32 in relation to the first part 31 in an oppositemovement direction. The second locking member 50 is disclosed in FIGS.1, 2 and 5. The second locking member 50 includes a cylinder 51, whichis fixedly provided on a first part 31 of the telescope arm 30, and apiston 52, which is movably provided in the cylinder 51. The piston 52is connected to a piston rod 53, which in turn is pivotably connected bya locking washer 54. The locking washer 54 is also pivotably connectedto the first part 31 or, as is disclosed in FIG. 5, a housing 55 housingthe cylinder 51 and substantially all components of the locking member50. The locking washer 54 is biased in a direction forwardly to abutmentagainst a stop shoulder 56 by means of a spring 57. The locking washer54 includes an opening through which a rod 58 extends in a displaceablemanner. The rod 58 is in its forward end via an attachment 59 fixedlyconnected to the second part 32 of the telescope arm 30. The attachment59 extends through a longitudinal slot 60 in the second locking part 42.If the rod 58 is displaced forwardly, i.e. when the second part 32 movesoutwardly from the first part 31, a forwardly directed force will beapplied to the locking washer 54 in such a way that it comes to aposition in which it does not prevent the continuing forwardly directedmovement of the rod 58. By means of the cylinder 51 and the piston 52the locking washer 54 may however be pulled rearwardly, wherein it bymeans of an inclined position will prevent the rod 58 from movingrearwardly and thus the introduction of the second part 32 into thefirst part 31. The cylinder 51 forms two cylinder spaces 61, 62, one oneach side of the piston 52. These cylinders spaces 61, 62 are connectedto a control unit 63 via a respective vacuum conduit 64, 65. The controlunit 63 is arranged to apply a vacuum to one of said spaces 61, 62. Thevacuum, or a relatively low pressure, is supplied by the vacuum pumpbeing a component in the schematically disclosed milking machine 5. If avacuum is supplied to the space 61 via the conduit 64 the locking washer54 will thus be pulled rearwardly and lock the first part in theposition achieved. If the vacuum is applied to the space 62 via theconduit 65, the locking washer 54 will be displaced forwardly towardsthe stop shoulder 56 and thus permit the second part 32 to move freelyin relation to the first part 31.

[0036] The device also includes a sensor 66 of an electric or pneumatictype, which is provided on the second part 32. The sensor 66 is arrangedto detect when the second locking part 42 is pulled rearwardly andthereby initiate the milking state of the device by delivering a signalto the control unit 63, which then applies a vacuum to the space 62,which releases the second part 32, and to the space 33, via a conduit67, which creates a force acting on the milking member 1 during themilking and extending in a forward direction x. Furthermore, the controlunit 63 will interrupt the vacuum supply to the rotary member 22, whichis to be described more closely below. The telescope arm 30 thusfunctions during the milking as a force-generating member exerting aforwardly directed force in the forward direction x to the milkingmember 1 and the teatcups 3. By the forward direction x is meant adirection towards the forward end of the box, and towards the forwardpart of the animal to be milked.

[0037] Furthermore, the arm arrangement 9 includes a third lockingmember, which is comprised by the rotary member 22 and which is arrangedto enable locking of the telescope arm 30 in a reached rotary position.This locking is achieved by the rotation of the telescope arm 30 in asecond rotary direction c′, which is opposite to the first rotarydirection c. The function of this locking appears from the followingdescription of the rotary member 22, see FIG. 8-12. The rotary member 22includes a housing 70 with two end pieces 71 and 72, which are fixedlyprovided on the housing 70. A shaft 73 extends through the housing 70and an opening in the respective end piece 71, 72. The shaft 73 includesa pin 74, which is fixedly connected to the telescope arm 30 in such away that the telescope arm 30 is not rotatable in relation to the shaft73. A piston housing 75 is fixedly provided on the shaft 73 by means ofa locking wedge 76. A cam-disc 77 is fixedly provided on the pistonhousing 75 and thus also the cam-disc 77 is fixed in relation to theshaft 73. A torsion spring 78 is with a first end attached to the endpiece 71 and with a second end to the cam-disc 77.

[0038] The torsion spring 78 is designed in such way that it exerts alifting force to the telescope arm 30 in the position disclosed in FIG.2. This lifting force of the torsion spring 78 will thus function as abalancing member in the position disclosed in FIG. 2. It is to be notedthat the torsion spring 78 exerts a force which only corresponds to theweight of the arm 30 and the conduit member 6, and thus not the weightof the milking member 1 and the teatcups 3.

[0039] The piston housing 75 includes a piston 79, see FIG. 10, which isprojectable out from the piston housing 75. The piston 79 includes oneor several projections 80, in the embodiment disclosed three projections80, which are arranged to engage three openings 81 of a first toothwasher 82, see FIG. 11. The first tooth washer 82 is rotatably providedon the shaft 73 and when the piston 79 is displaced out from the pistonhousing 75 the first tooth washer 82 will thus be locked in relation tothe shaft 73. The first tooth washer 82 is arranged to co-operate with asecond tooth washer 83, which is provided in the housing 70 in such away that it is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the shaft73 against the action of a compression spring 84, but not rotatable inrelation to the housing 70 thanks to four projections 85 which are inengagement with grooves (not disclosed) of the inner wall of the housing70. The toot washers 82 and 83 include a respective tooth ring withfirst flanks 87 with a relatively plane inclination and second flanks 88with a relatively steep inclination, see FIG. 12. When the piston 79 isin projected position and thus in engagement with the first tooth washer82, the rotary axis 73, and thus the telescope arm 30, will berelatively fixed in relation to the rotary member 22 and the swing arm18. Thanks to the relatively plane flanks 87, the rotary shaft 73 andthe telescope arm 30 may be rotated upwards by overcoming a relativelysmall force. It is also possible to rotate the telescope arm 30 and theshaft 73 downwards by overcoming a relatively large force thanks to theinclined, relatively steep flanks 88.

[0040] The position of the piston 79 in the piston housing 75 iscontrolled by means of the application of a vacuum via the control unit63. The piston housing 75 is connected to the control unit 63 (seeFIG. 1) via a vacuum conduit 90, which is connected to a shut-off valve91. From the shut-off valve 91 a vacuum conduit 92 extends further to aconnection 93 of the piston housing 75. The shut-off valve 91 includes amanoeuvring pin 94 the position of which is controlled by the cam-disc77. When the telescope arm 30 is rotated downwards, the manoeuvring pin94 will abut the peripheral surface of the cam-disc 77 and by means offriction be maintained in an upwardly directed position, wherein theshut-off valve 91 is closed and no vacuum is applied to the pistonhousing 75. During this movement, the piston 79 is pulled into thepiston housing 75, and the telescope arm 30 and the shaft 73 are thusfreely rotatable in relation to the rotary member 22. When the desiredposition of the telescope arm 30 has been reached, the telescope arm 30is somewhat lifted, wherein the manoeuvring pin 94 is rotated downwardsand opens the shut-off valve 91, wherein vacuum is applied to the pistonhousing 75. Consequently, the piston 79 will be projected outwardlyagainst the action of a compression spring (not disclosed) and engagethe tooth washer 82, wherein the telescope arm 30 is locked in therotary position achieved. A relative locking or fixing of the telescopearm 30 in this rotary position is thus achieved. As mentioned above, itis however thanks to the flanks 87, 88 possible to rotate the telescopearm 30 by applying a small and large rotary force, respectively. Whenthe locked rotary position is to be released, the supply of therelatively low pressure is interrupted by means of the control unit 63,wherein the compression spring mentioned above retracts the piston 79out of engagement with the tooth washer 82.

[0041] Furthermore, the device includes a removing member 100 with arotary motor of a pneumatic, hydraulic or electric type. The drive motorof the removing member 100 is connected to a pulling line 101, whichextends via a guide 102 into the telescope arm 30 and is connected tothe projectable second part 32. Removal of the milking member 1 isinitiated in a conventional manner via the control unit 63 when themilking is to be finished. The drive motor of the removing member 100will thus pull the pulling line 101 and the second part 32 rearwardly,wherein the teatcups 3 are pulled off from the teats of the animal. Atthe same time the vacuum application to the cylinder 51 and the pistonhousing 75 is deactivated, via the control unit 63, in such a way thatthe arm arrangement 9 will be freely movable. When the second part 32has been pulled into the first part 31, the telescope arm 30 is rotatedupwardly by means of a continuing pulling in the pulling line 101, andthe swing arm 18 is swinged downwardly and laterally. This movingpattern may be obtained by means of a suitable location of the drivemotor of the removing member 100.

[0042] The device also includes an activating device with a sensingmember 110 (see FIG. 1), which in the embodiment disclosed is providedat the swing joint 16. When the swing arm 17 is swinged in relation tothe support element 10, the sensing member 110 will activate the controlunit 63 by a signal, wherein the control unit 63 initiates the vacuumapplication to the various components of the device and to the milkingmember 1 and the teatcups 3. This is obtained by opening of aschematically disclosed closing valve 111 of the milking machine 5. Thesensing member 110 is arranged to be activated as soon as the swingingof the swing arm 18 from the downwardly turned rest position isinitiated. The sensing member 110 may of course be located in manydifferent positions and in many different manners of the device, forinstance at the rotary member 22, the rotary joint 23 and/or thetelescope arm 30. The sensing member 110 may include a mechanicalelement, which is brought to a movement when the swing arm 18 isswinged, or include optical, inductive or any similar members forsensing a movement of the swing arm 18. The sensing member 110 isconnected to the control unit 63 via a connecting member 112 ofelectric, pneumatic, hydraulic or mechanical type.

[0043] The embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1-12 refers to an armarrangement, which is primarily intended for introduction between therear legs of the animal to be milked.

[0044]FIGS. 13 and 14 disclose a second embodiment that refers to an armarrangement, which primarily is intended for being introduced from theside of the animal to be milked. It is to be noted that the samereference signs have been used in the description of all embodiments forcomponents with the same or a similar function.

[0045] The device according to the second embodiment includes an armarrangement 9 and a support element 10. The support element 10 is alsoin the second embodiment attached to a substantially vertical wall 11 ina milking parlour 12. The animal (not disclosed) stands in a milking box13 with the head directed in the direction x in parallel with themilking parlour 12. The support element 10 extends substantiallyvertically and in parallel with the wall 11. The support element 10includes at its outer end a swing joint 16 which includes a swingablepart 17 on which a rotary member 22 of the arm arrangement 9 isprovided.

[0046] The arm arrangement also includes a tubular arm element 30 thatis connected to the rotary member 22. As appears from FIGS. 13 and 14,the conduit member 6 extends through the tubular arm element 30. Theconduit member 6 is fixedly connected to the arm element 30 and moreprecisely in the forward end of the arm element 30 by means of elasticclamping jaws 29 or any similar connecting member. Also the secondembodiment may include locking parts of the type disclosed in the firstembodiment for locking the milking member during the movement from thefirst position to the second position.

[0047] The arm element 30 is swingable in a vertical plane in a rotarydirection d by means of the swing joint 16. The arm element 30 is alsoswingable in a substantially horizontal plane in a rotary direction e,e′ about an axis of the rotary member 22 between a first position besidethe animal to be milked and a second position below the animal to bemilked.

[0048] According to the second embodiment the following movement patternis achieved for the arm arrangement 9. In a rest position of the device,the arm element 30 is rotated to the first position, which is indicatedwith dashed lines in FIG. 13 and in which the arm element 30 extendssubstantially in parallel with the box 13 and the direction x. When themilking member 1 is to be applied, the milker grips two of the teatcups3 and pulls them inwardly so that the arm element 30 takes the secondposition disclosed with continuous lines in FIG. 13. When this movementof the arm element 30 is initiated, also the vacuum application isactivated in the same way as in the first embodiment. The rotary member22 may also in the second embodiment be arranged to lock the arm element30 in the second position in a similar way as in the first embodiment inorder to permit the application of the teatcups 3 without requiring thatthe milker holds the claw 2 proper.

[0049] The torsion spring 78, which is described in the firstembodiment, may in the second embodiment be provided in the swing joint16 and arranged to exert a lifting force to the arm element 30 and tobalance the weight of the arm element 30 and the conduit member 6 duringthe milking.

[0050] The device according to the second embodiment also includes aforce-generating member in the form of a pneumatic cylinder 120, whichduring the milking generates a force acting on the arm element 30substantially in the direction x. The generated force is transferred tothe teatcups 3 via the conduit member 6, the claw 2 and the milkconduits 4. Such a cylinder 120 may generate a substantially uniformforce independent of the position of the arm arrangement during themilking. The cylinder 120 is via a joint 121 connected to a stationarysupport member 122. The cylinder 120 is swingable in a horizontal planeand in a vertical plane. The cylinder 120 forms a space in which apiston 123 is movably provided. The piston 123 is connected to a pistonrod 124 that via a joint 125 is connected to the arm element 30. Thepiston rod 124 is also swingable in all directions in relation to thearm element 30. In the second embodiment, the piston rod 124 will bepulled into the cylinder 121 when a relatively low pressure is appliedto the space in the cylinder 120, i.e. the arm element 30 is pulledtowards the first position and a force, which extends in a forwarddirection, is exerted to the teatcups 3. The low pressure may be appliedby means of the vacuum pump 7 of the milking machine 5 via a vacuumconduit 130 and the control unit 63, which for instance may initiate theapplication the low pressure when it receives a signal from a sensor ofthe type defined in the first embodiment.

[0051] The device according to the second embodiment also includes anactivating device with a sensing member 110 (see FIG. 13), which in theembodiment disclosed is provided on the arm element 30 in the proximityof the rotary member 22. When the arm element 30 is rotated in relationto the support element 10, the sensing member 110 will activate thecontrol unit 63 by a signal, wherein the control unit 63 initiates thevacuum application to the various components of the device and to themilking member 1 and the teatcups 3. This may be obtained by opening ofthe schematically disclosed shut-off valve 111 of the milking machine 5in the same way as in the first embodiment, or alternatively by startingthe vacuum pump of the milking machine 5. The sensing member 110 isarranged to be activated as soon as the rotation of the arm element 30from the first position is initiated. The sensing member 110 may ofcourse be located in may different positions and in many different waysof the device according to the second embodiment, for instance at theswing joint 16, the cylinder 120, thejoint 121 and/or the joint 125.Furthermore, the sensing member 110 may include a mechanical elementwhich is brought into a movement when the arm element 30 is rotated, orinclude optical, inductive or any similar member for sensing of amovement of the arm element 30.

[0052] The invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed but maybe varied and modified within the scope of the following claims. It isto be noted that the force-generating member for achieving asubstantially uniform force may be realised also in other ways than withthe pneumatic cylinders 30, 120 disclosed, for instance pneumaticcylinders being supplied with pressurised air, hydraulic cylinders,rotation motors of electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic type, electricallinear motors etc.

1. A device for carrying a milking member, which includes at least oneteatcup and which, via a flexible conduit member, is connectable to amilking machine arranged to provide a relatively low pressure, whereinthe device includes a support element, which is fixedly mounted in or ata milking box having a front end and a rear end and being arranged toreceive an animal to be milked, wherein the animal is positioned withthe head of the animal at the front end, and an arm arrangement, whichis pivotably connected to the support element and arranged to supportpartly the milking member during milking of the animal and when saidteatcup is applied to a teat of the animal, wherein the arm arrangementis movable from a first position, in which the milking member is locatedbeside the animal, to a second position, in which the milking member islocated below the animal, wherein the arm arrangement by means of aconnecting member is fixedly connected to the flexible conduit member ata distance from the milking member in such a way that the milking memberis partly movable in relation to the arm arrangement, and wherein thedevice includes a force-generating member, which, during milking, isarranged to generate a force acting on the arm arrangement in a forwarddirection, wherein this force is transferred to said teatcup via theconduit member.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein theforce-generating member is arranged to generate a force of a size thatis substantially independent of the position of the arm arrangementduring milking.
 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein theforce-generating member includes a cylinder, which includes a pistonthat is displaceable in the cylinder through the supply or the dischargeof a fluid.
 4. A device according to, claim 1, wherein the armarrangement is arranged to permit a relatively free movability of themilking member in a vertical direction during the milking.
 5. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the arm arrangement includes a tubular armelement through which the conduit member extends, wherein the connectingmember is provided at an outer end of the arm element.
 6. A deviceaccording to claim 5, that wherein the device includes a balancingmember which, during the milking, is arranged to balance the weight ofthe arm element and the conduit member.
 7. A device according to claim 5wherein the tubular arm element is designed as a telescope arm with atleast a first part and a second outer part, wherein the second outerpart is displaceable in relation to the first part.
 8. A deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the arm arrangement includes a tubular armelement through which the conduit member extends, wherein the connectingmember is provided at an outer end of the arm element and wherein thetubular arm element is designed as a tubular arm with at least a firstpart and a second outer part, the second outer part being displaceablein relation to the first part, and wherein the first part of thetelescope arm includes one of said cylinder and piston, wherein thesecond outer part of the telescope arm includes the other of saidcylinder and piston.
 9. A device according to claim 8, wherein thecylinder is formed by the first part of the telescope arm and by thepiston of the second outer part of the telescope arm.
 10. A deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein the arm arrangement includes a rotarymember and a tubular arm element, wherein the tubular arm element isconnected to the rotary member, which is arranged to permit rotation ofthe arm element in a first rotary direction about a rotary axis of therotary member during the movement of the arm arrangement from the firstposition to the second position.
 11. A device according to claim 10,wherein the tubular arm element is designed as a telescope arm with atleast a first part and a second outer part, wherein the second outerpart is displaceable in relation to the first part and wherein therotary member is connected to the first part of the telescope arm.
 12. Adevice according to claim 10, wherein the rotary member is connected tothe support element.
 13. A device according to claim 1, wherein themilking member includes a claw, which is connected to the conduitmember, and four teatcups, which are connected to the claw via arespective short milk conduit.
 14. A device according to claim 2,wherein the force-generating member includes a cylinder which includes apiston that is displaceable in the cylinder through the supply or thedischarge of a fluid.
 15. A device according to claim 2, wherein the armarrangement is arranged to permit a relatively free movability of themilking member in a vertical direction during the milking.
 16. A deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the arm arrangement includes a tubular armelement through which the conduit member extends, wherein the connectingmember is provided at an outer end of the arm element.
 17. A deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the milking member includes a claw whichis connected to the conduit member, and four teatcups which areconnected to the claw via a respective short milk conduit.
 18. A deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein the tubular arm element is designed as atelescope arm with at least a first part and a second outer part,wherein the second outer part is displaceable in relation to the firstpart.
 19. A device according to claim 18, wherein the arm arrangementincludes a rotary member, wherein the tubular arm element is connectedto the rotary member, which is arranged to permit rotation of the armelement in a first rotary direction about a rotary axis of the rotarymember during the movement of the arm arrangement from the firstposition to the second position.
 20. A device according to claim 11, inthat the rotary member is connected to the support element.